Ways Alcohol Attacks Your Smile

Last time we posted, we took the time to talk about soda and how it may be corrupting your teeth to the point where you will need treatment with dental implants. This time, we’re going to talk about another substance that could be compromising the health of your smile: alcohol. Alcohol is very bad for your teeth and has even been known to lead to widespread tooth decay. This is particularly troubling as alcohol is one of the most consumed substances in the United States, with statistics showing that 50 percent of Americans had a drink in the past month, and 70 percent had a drink in the past year. Today, Dr. Barry Cohen is blogging from his Drexel Hill, PA office to talk about the ways that alcohol attacks your teeth.

1. Carbonated Alcohol

Much like with soda, there are some alcoholic beverages, such as champagne and certain spritzers, that are carbonated. When you drink these beverages, the carbonic acid used to create carbonation ends up on your teeth, where it will begin to slowly eat away at the enamel on your teeth. In fact, drinking a carbonated beverage exposes your teeth to a 20 to 30-minute-long acid attack, which can have a drastic effect on the health of your teeth.

2. Sugar Content

Because sugar is a carbohydrate, it will attract bacteria to your teeth. When you drink an alcoholic beverage that is high in sugar content, this sugar will stick to your teeth, where it will begin to attract bacteria. This bacteria will consume the sugar on your teeth, and create acids that will begin to attack and weaken the defensive layers of your teeth, eventually to the point where they will be defenseless against infection.

3. Mixed Drinks

It turns out that the drink most often mixed with alcohol is actually soda. And, as we know, soda is high in sugar and also carbonated. When mixed with alcohol, you are getting these effects from the soda, as well as the negative effects that come from alcohol, meaning your teeth are being attacked on two fronts.

4. Dry Mouth

Alcohol is a diuretic, which is why when you drink, you experience an increased rate of urination. Unfortunately, when you urinate a lot, your mouth can dry out. Our saliva is actually the first line of defense for our teeth, so if your mouth is dry, you have lost this defense mechanism, which can make it easier for bacteria to get to your teeth.

5. Failure to Brush

After a long night of drinking, the last thing on your mind is brushing your teeth. However, it is very important that you do brush before crawling into bed, as failing to do so results in all of the sugar and carbonation you have accumulated on your teeth throughout the night in place. All of this damaging debris will remain on your teeth until you eventually brush in the morning.

Call and Schedule a Consultation in Drexel, PA

If you are failing to consume your alcohol in moderation, then you may end up losing a tooth. In this case, we highly recommend you consider dental implants for your tooth restoration treatment. If you would like to learn more about dental implants, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule a free no-obligation consultation with Dr. Barry Cohen today. We serve patients in Havertown, Broomall, Springfield, Upper Darby, Clifton Heights, and Drexel Hill.